Morris tribune., 1887-01-26
SCIENTIFIC sLUGGING.
John l.. Thinks 4 Good Fighter Most Have Goo
IIead-IIe Criticises Dempsey.

1890
lIead--IIe Criticises Dempsey.
From the Sacramento Bee.
LII answer to the question, "What
are the essentials of q good fighter?
Sullivan said:
PLUCK, skill, endurance and q good
head on his shoulders" said the glad
ator. II tell you, sir, a man fights
with his head almost as much as he
does with his fist. He must know
where to send his blows so they may
do the most good. He must econo-
mize his strength and not score q hit
just for the sake of scoring it"
"What portion OF your antagonists
body do you aim at when you are in
the ring?"
II endeavor," said Sullivan, "to nit
my man above the heart, or under the
chin, or behind the ear. A man wears
out pretty soon if one can keep ham,
mering away in the region OF the heart;
q blow under the chin or behind the
ear will knock out man quicker than
u hundred blows on the cheek or any
other portion of the face. Now the
Marine has IL sea, on the cheek which
he received in his fight with Dempsey,
and which he will carry to his grave.
He told me that Dempsey kept ham
mering away at that spot. If Demp-
sey were long headed fighter he
would not have wasted his time and
strength i'll getting in there. This fact
alone proves to me that he is deficient
in generalship."
You can tell when your man is Civ
ing in?"
Certainly cam" said the pugilist.
II watch his eyes and | know at once
when the punishment is beginning to
tell on him. And when | talk to a
man before stand up before him at
all can make up my mind whether
ne is q fighter or not. There is
more intelligence required III this bust
ness than outsiders give us credit
for"
Can you remember any case where
you brought any special tactics into
play?"
"Tes," SAID John l.. 81 just happen
to smember one circumstance, and
I'll tell you Of it. Ayoung and pretty
clever bOxer-l won't mention his
name now-undertook to stand up be-
fore me for four rounds. Now, ] want
ed to give the public a good show for
their moneys worth, so | allowed the
young man to hammer away to his
hearts content. When, after the sec
ond round, L. was being spongel
off in my corner said to my second,
About half minute before this next
round is over you call out "JOhn!'
loud enough for me to hear you
Time was called, and after q few pass
es l rushed in and laid my head upon
that young mans breast and let him
belt away at me as hard as heCOuld.
The audience cheered because they
thought he was knocking me out, sure,
but at that close range his blows hurt
me about as much as you could now
by tibbinG me on the top of the head
with q soft glove. There | lay, as
snug as you please, taking deal OF
amusement out Of the enthusiasm Of
the audience. Presently my second,
who had kept his eyes upon his watch,
called out John thenI stepped
back and landed my young man one
under the ear, and that was the last
OF him."
''Do you train for these fights?"
NO" said the pugilist, emphati-
cally. II know better than to waste
my vitality in training. l lie in bed
until 10 o'clock in the morning, read
all the papers, smoke cigar, take
cup of black coffee, then get up and
have my bath and breakfast. Now,
when ! meet q man that | think is
going to give ME some trouble | will
train, but have not met that man
yet" added the pugilist, decisively.
"How about you and Mace, Sulli-
van, were you not TO have met at ore
timer"
"Jen Mace and myselr talked
the matter over, and l said
to him: Mace, you have
earned a fine reputation as a fighter
and you don't want now, at the end
of your days, to be knocked out by
Inc. object to giving any hippodrome
exhibitions with you, but I'll make
you this proposition: I'll agree to
spar you four rounds on the following
conditions: For the first three rounds
| will act solely on the defensive. and
I will agree not to lead or counter, but
fiat the conclusion of the third round
you have not knocked me out, will
do my best to knock you out in the
fourth round, and you must take
your chances; the winner to get the
gate money Mace would not con-
sent to this so the matterfell through"